Immigration Raid Shakes Up Hispanic Community
None by KCPW
(KCPW News) Utah's Hispanic community is reeling after a large immigration raid at a meatpacking plant near Logan yesterday. Latino community leader Tony Yapias estimates Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents arrested as many 150 undocumented workers at the plant, though federal officials have not released exact numbers:"The impact to our community is tremendous because it's going to be one of the biggest raids our state has seen in a very long time," says Yapias.
Authorities raided plants run by Swift and Company in six states as part of an investigation into identity theft. They were tracking workers who used stolen Social Security numbers to get jobs. Yapias and other Hispanic leaders met with the U.S. Attorney's office late yesterday to ask that the arrested individuals in Utah be processed and deported quickly "so their families don't have to go through all the trauma they've been going through today."
"I'm mean that's at least 400 to 600 family members that have been impacted and the entire community has been traumatized," adds Yapias.
By some media reports, the six-state raid took as many as 600 workers into custody and temporarily shut down operations at the meatpacking plants.
Email to a friendPosted in KCPW Newsroom. Copyright 2008 KCPW
1. Jeremy said:
Nice coverage, Julie. I am glad the latino community is acting quickly to help the affected families. I wonder what Swift and Company is going to do for workers for the next little while...
3. cristina sanchez said:
The Only reason why hispanics come to the US its because unfortenly our goverment is so corrupt and unfair the economy its worse than ever. what would you do if a pound of meat cost your whole salary woun't you look for resources to support your family? and the only resource all the hispanic has its came to the US. but trust me I love my country and I wish I didn't had to come to US only for the reason of better future for my family. and I
2. Peter Monsen said:
I feel sorry for all the family members whose lives were disrupted. But it was a direct consequence of other family members breaking the law. Parents who immigrate illegally with children, or who later have children, should acknowledge they're putting their families in a precarious situation.